A&M's game plan will involve Sherman

Updated 12:42 pm, Thursday, November 17, 2011

Texas' Mack Brown and Texas A&M's Mike Sherman discussed things other than the fate of the Big 12.

Texas' Mack Brown and Texas A&M's Mike Sherman discussed things other than the fate of the Big 12.

Photo: EDWARD A. ORNELAS, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman watches a play during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State won the game 53-50 in quadruple overtime. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman watches a play during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State won the game 53-50

Former Aggies coach R.C. Slocum (left) will help Mike Sherman but is careful not to meddle with the team.

Former Aggies coach R.C. Slocum (left) will help Mike Sherman but is careful not to meddle with the team.

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Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman congratulates Texas A&M defensive back Terrence Frederick (7) and the rest of the defense after Missouri was forced to punt during the second quarter during a NCAA football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, at Kyle Field in College Station. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle )

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman and his quarterback, Ryan Tannehill (17), couldn't get the offense moving in the thrid quarter against Oklahoma at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, November 5, 2011,

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, in Ames, Iowa. Texas A&M won 33-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, celebrates with Ryan Swope, left, after Swope scored during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Jon Eilts)

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, celebrates with Ryan Swope, left, after Swope scored during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College

BRETT COOMER: CHRONICLE YELL PARTY: Texas A&M football Mike Sherman, center, helped his team celebrate a 38-3 victory in 2009 - the last time the Aggies and Baylor played at Kyle Field. With A&M moving to the SEC, today's game is the last scheduled in a series that dates to 1899.

BRETT COOMER: CHRONICLE YELL PARTY: Texas A&M football Mike Sherman, center, helped his team celebrate a 38-3 victory in 2009 - the last time the Aggies and Baylor played at Kyle Field. With A&M moving

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman talks to a ref in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, in Kyle Field in College Station. Oklahoma State won 30-29.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman talks to a ref in the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, in Kyle Field in College Station. Oklahoma State won 30-29.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Mike Sherman, head coach of Texas A&M, joins players in a post-game singing of the Aggie War Hymn following Texas A&M's 24-17 win over the University of Texas at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

Mike Sherman, head coach of Texas A&M, joins players in a post-game singing of the Aggie War Hymn following Texas A&M's 24-17 win over the University of Texas at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, hugs Christine Michael (33) after he scored a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against SMU, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, hugs Christine Michael (33) after he scored a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against SMU, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in College

Southern Methodist head coach June Jones, left, congratulates Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman after loosing 46-14 in a NCAA football game, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in Kyle Field in College Station.

Southern Methodist head coach June Jones, left, congratulates Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman after loosing 46-14 in a NCAA football game, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in Kyle Field in College Station.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman stands with his players as the Aggie War Hymn is played after beating Southern Methodist 46-14 in a NCAA football game, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in Kyle Field in College Station.

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman stands with his players as the Aggie War Hymn is played after beating Southern Methodist 46-14 in a NCAA football game, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in Kyle Field in College

SPORTS Mike Sherman leads the Aggies onto the field as Texas A&M plays Arkansas State at Kyle Field in College Station on August 30, 2008. Tom Reel/Staff

SPORTS Mike Sherman leads the Aggies onto the field as Texas A&M plays Arkansas State at Kyle Field in College Station on August 30, 2008. Tom Reel/Staff

Photo: TOM REEL, SAEN

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Aggies head coach Mike Sherman watches his team sputter in the second half as Texas A&M loses to Arkansas State 18-14 at Kyle Field in College Station on August 30, 2008.

Aggies head coach Mike Sherman watches his team sputter in the second half as Texas A&M loses to Arkansas State 18-14 at Kyle Field in College Station on August 30, 2008.

Photo: TOM REEL, SAEN

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In this Jan. 7, 2011 photo, Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, left looks on from the sideline during the second half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game against LSU in Arlington, Texas. The Aggies lost 41-24.

Aggies head coach Mike Sherman and his Texas Aggies sing their school song after their win 24-17 over the Longhorns during the University of Texas-Texans A&M college football game at Texas Memorial Stadium, Nov. 25, 2010, in Ausitn. Texas A&M won the game 24-17.

Aggies head coach Mike Sherman and his Texas Aggies sing their school song after their win 24-17 over the Longhorns during the University of Texas-Texans A&M college football game at Texas Memorial Stadium,

Linebacker Von Miller says the Aggies, under coach Mike Sherman, are much more confident coming into the 2010 season.

Linebacker Von Miller says the Aggies, under coach Mike Sherman, are much more confident coming into the 2010 season.

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A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, wants his team to have a day-by-day, game-by-game approach this season.

A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, wants his team to have a day-by-day, game-by-game approach this season.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman yells at an official in the fourth quarter of his Advocare 100 Independence Bowl game against Georgia Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, in Independance Stadium in Shreveport. ( Nick de la Torre / Chronicle )

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman yells at an official in the fourth quarter of his Advocare 100 Independence Bowl game against Georgia Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, in Independance Stadium in Shreveport. ( Nick

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, left, shakes hands with Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, before the start of the game.

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, left, shakes hands with Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, before the start of the game.

Photo: Sue Ogrocki, Associated Press

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Texas A&M Aggies

What we thought then:The Aggies weren’t the most talented team, but with a year in Mike Sherman’s system under their belts and a favorable schedule, 2009 looked like a season to see some progress.

What we know now:Jerrod Johnson can indeed be an effective Big 12 quarterback, but only if he stays upright long enough to make it into conference play. And A&M’s lack of speed on defense is not a good match for teams that can spread the field.

What we’ll find out:Is this incarnation of the A&M program different than the one that has wilted after early adversity in recent years? Or could a home upset against a ranked OSU team help Sherman stop the bleeding like Dennis Franchione couldn’t?

“It's one of those things that you're going to have to live with the rest of your life, that you didn't go out and accomplish the things you set out to do,” Hunter said.

In a season they were once ranked seventh in the Associated Press poll, the Aggies are 5-5 with three consecutive losses. A&M plays its next two at home: on Saturday against Big 12 doormat Kansas and on Thanksgiving night against rival Texas. Should the Aggies win those and a bowl game?

“It would be better than losing,” Hunter said, “but I still don't see it as a successful season.”

Despite this year's meltdown, a season when everything was supposed to come together for Mike Sherman, the fourth-year coach appears safe headed into A&M's first year in the Southeastern Conference. The reasons are threefold:

The manner in which they've lost. The Aggies easily could be 9-1, after blowing four double-digit second-half leads — including in a 53-50 four-overtime loss at Kansas State last weekend — leaving Sherman scratching his visor.

“I've never quite experienced what we've experienced this year, either as an assistant coach or a head coach,” Sherman said. “To be as close as we are and then lose ... I've done a lot of soul searching in relationship to that, and how to handle it with our team.”

Sherman's recruiting is improving. Rivals.com ranks his 2012 class seventh nationally. The Aggies have 24 verbal commitments, including eight four-stars (compared to three in the 2011 class). In a well-worn mantra around Aggieland, A&M's future appears bright, at least in terms of talent.

Following a 9-4 season in which the Aggies defeated Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas at this time last year, Sherman received a one-year extension and a $400,000 annual pay bump. He makes $2.2 million per year, and following this season, has four years remaining on his contract.

In this economy, there aren't a whole lot of Big Money Ags (BMAs) willing to buy out the football coach and his 24-24 record — especially considering reasons one and two are why Sherman likely isn't going anywhere.

Perhaps, though, he'll at least have an offensive coordinator pressed upon him in the offseason. Sherman's passion is offense, and he serves as the team's coordinator, and will even admit to missing some defensive plays while addressing the other side of the ball. Asked this week if he'll consider hiring a coordinator, Sherman defended his offense, ranked sixth nationally.

“I look at everything at the end of the season, but I feel like we have a good system,” he said. “I've had people call me this year who want to come in and study how we do things.”

Athletic director Bill Byrne addressed the football woes in his weekly online address Wednesday — to a point.

“I've been working in college athletics for more than 40 years, and Kansas State was one of the most disappointing games I've seen one of my teams play,” Byrne wrote. “... I've been hearing from some of you who are suggesting options for me to consider. One emailer provided me the number of the local bus company and a map of all roads leading out of Aggieland. Another sent me a Google list of moving and storage companies ...

“I appreciate all of the information, and I've put it in a special place.”